Monday, December 23, 2013

Philomena - movie review

Sometimes you see a movie which touches your heart.  I just love movies based on true stories and although I know often creative license is taken, this movie, Philomena took me on a journey where sadness, joy and pain were all intermingled.

Dame Judi Dench plays Philomenia who initiates a search with the help of a unemployed political journalist, Martin Sixsmith, played by Steven Coogan,  to find her son, who was taken away from her 50 years previously. The story of the Catholic Church and their practices in Ireland all those years ago comes under scrutiny. Plus how the journey unfolds as they learn the church sold him to a couple in the U.S.

I loved the way the editor, Valerio Bonelli, fitted in pictures of the boy as he was growing up, which helped make him real as they were unfolding the story of his life. 

The humanness played by Judi Dench and how Steven Coogan begins not wanting to do this story at all, but gets emotionally involved with the story and aids Philomenia in unraveling the story utilizing his journalistic skills.

Worth seeing - definitely. Take Kleenexes, as the ending will get to you I'm sure - it did me.

4 1/2 out of 5.

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